Holiday activities awarded funds

Photo caption : Play Worcester is celebrating after being awarded funds to provide leisure and play opportunities for children during the holidays

An organisation that aims to provide play and leisure activities in Worcester during the school holidays has been awarded funding to achieve this.

Play Worcester applied to our Community Chest to fund these free sessions and provide opportunities for children to meet others and engage in play in their local communities.  The grant comes from a funding pot for Platform customers and local charities, clubs and other not-for-profit organisations; applications are welcomed if their work or project directly benefits Platform customers. All applications are assessed against specific eligibility criteria by customers who sit on our Customer Voice Panel.

Play Worcester places a particular emphasis on the areas of highest need in the city, where families have fewer opportunities for social play. The sessions will take place at various public open spaces in Worcester.

Niki Stobbs, Chair of Play Worcester said: “On behalf of Play Worcester we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Platform Housing Group. Thanks to this funding we can deliver 50 free summer play activities for children in Worcester, living in areas of the most need.  Children and families will be able to enjoy events delivered by our fun squads in their communities at no cost, something that is so important due to the current high cost of living.

“Last year, 1300 children and families in 17 different locations enjoyed activities such as face painting, archery, arts and crafts, basketball and a climbing wall.  Thanks to our partnership with other community support organisations, families were signposted to libraries, dentistry, education and other child specific services.  On behalf of Play Worcester, we would like to say a huge thank you to Platform for its generosity and support of our work.”

Marion Duffy, Chief Operations Officer at Platform Housing Group said: “We are so glad to be able to help deliver this project.  Play is important in children’s development, physically, mentally and socially.  In addition, both children and their parents make connections and friendships with others in their areas, helping to build stronger communities.”